Brake adjusting mechanism



March 4, 1952 H, FRICK 2,587,831

BRAKE ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 27, 1946 Jg Z0 36 4238*@565'? 0'v l NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1952 RKE. @JUSTING .MECHANlSM Harold L. Frick, Detroit, Mich., assignor to `Hydraulic Brake' tornia Company, a corporation of Cali- Vsubstituted for Labandoned application Serial No. j

650,406, February 27, 1946, May l101,950 Serial, N 161,201

This application 5.01am. A (c1. `iss-L-ifas;

l This application-is a substitute for my abandoned application, Serial Number 650,406, filed February 27, 1946.

' HrI'his invention relates to brakes and more particularly to brakes :for-motor vehicles.

'Broadly the invention comprehends ajbrake `for-a motor vehicle, having all of the essentials for actuation and automatic adjustment thereof embodied in a single unit.

Another lobject ofthe invention is to provide `a brake for a motor vehicle in which actuating means for friction elements, retractable means for the-friction elements and automatic adjustment .means for the friction elements are embodied ina single unit for complete control `of theubrake.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake fora motor vehicle having automatically operative adjusters for the -friction `elements thereof carried by actuating means for the brake. Another object of theinvention-is to provide a fluid pressure actuated brake for motor vehicles havingfautomatically operative vadjusters for the friction element thereof clamped to the actuator and controlled as a result of wear on the friction element during a normal braking operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear from the following deu scriptionrwhen taken in connection with `the accompanying drawings forming `a part lof :this

specification, and in which:

`Figure 1 is ayertical sectional view of a brake embodying the invention, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of afluid pressure actuated motor andassociated elements.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention, IU represents a fixed support or a backing plate adapted to be secured to an axle or to an axle housing, and associated with the backing plate is a rotatable drum I2 adapted to be secured to a wheel.

The backing plate has arranged thereon spaced anchors I4 and I6 and a pair of corresponding interchangeable friction elements or shoes I8 and 20 having their articulate ends anchors.

Each of the shoes includes a web 22 supporting a rim 24 having suitably secured thereon a friction lining 26, and adjacent the toe of the shoe. the web, the rim and the lining are cut away as at 28. the object of which will hereinafter appear.

A fluid pressure actuated motor indicated genpivoted on the v,

65 resulting in movement of the shoes into eng 2 erally at 30, is vfixeclly Vsecured on the .backin plate Inbetween the toes or force'applying ends of the shoes I8 and 20. -The motor includes 4.a cylinder 32 having a port 34 v preferably centrally with respect to the length of the cylinder.

The cylinder `:l2 has therein corresponding oppositely disposed pistons 36 and 38. Each of theV pistons has aqreduced bodyvportion 40 and ahead complementary to the bore of the cyiinderhaving a circumferential ,grooveV for the reception of a sealing ring 42 suitable for inhibitingseepage4v of lfluid past'the piston. VThe reduced body por tion 4I) has a socket 44 :for-the reception of agball 4G on one end of a thrust pin 48. The ball isse cured against displacement Aas by turning the rim of the wall defining the socket, and the `other `end of the` thrust pin "is suitably connected to fthe force applying end Aof the ,adjacent shoe.

A Vmanually adjustable Vstop; 1 ring $50 for initially setting .the brake isthreaded in eachend of the cylinder andheld against displacement as by spring clips 52 `mounted .onithe cylinder, and retractile springs 54 interposed vbetween the vstop rings 50 and thel pistons serve4 .to return the pistons and, accordingly, .the shoes A.to .the retractedposition.

Automatically operative adjustersfor the fric.

tion elements or shoes vinclude sleeves 5.6 sup-` portedfor reciprocation in `the ,stoprings :50 and on the -body `portions V4I) .of `the f pistons. The sleeves areifrictionallyvgripped on the pistons as byspring pressed split friction .rings `58 fitted in circumferential grooves inthe "body portions `oi' the pistons. The sleeves `have ciilangcsconstituting stops (itlA forgcooperation with the' stops 50, and internal grooves* 62 supporting dust shields 64 embracing the thrust pins for the exclusion of dust and other foreign matter from the cylinder.

Corresponding oppositely disposed arms 66 formed integral with or suitably secured to the sleeves 56 straddle the ywebs of the shoes )and support rim sections 68 in thecut away'portions-:Zl of the shoes and a frictionblockl, preferably of a lower coefficient of friction than that of the linings of `the shoes,` is suitably s ecuredtothe rim sections. lH

In a normal operation flui v'under pressure entering the cylinder 32 by way of the ports 34 results in moving the pistons 36 and 318 inlopposite directions. During this movement ofthe pistons force is transmitted from the pistons through the thrust pins 48 to the force applying ends of the friction elements or shoes 'I8 and' 2lil `ment with the drum l2 against the resistance of the retractile springs 54 to effectively retard rotation of the drum.

During this operation the sleeves 56 frictionally clamped to the pistons 36 and 38 by the friction elements 58 are moved outwardly from the cylinder in opposite directions and transmit force through the arms 66 to the shoe segment 68 to yieldingly apply the friction blocks to the drum.

A braking operation, such as above described, inherently results in wear of the friction linings 26 on the friction elements or shoes, and since these friction linings are of a higher coeficient of friction than the friction Vblock 'In on the rim tion elements for cooperation therewith, a motor including a, cylinder and opposed pistons movable therein for actuating the friction elements, manually adjustable stops on the cylinder, retractile springs in the cylinder between the stops and the pistons, stops frictionally clamped to the vpistons for` cooperation with the manually adjustable stops and means cooperating with the drum for adjusting the stops on the pistons as a result of wear on the friction elements.

3. A brake comprising a rotatable drum, friction elements for, cooperation therewith, a Inosections 68 of the adjusters, there is a differential l in wear resulting in relative movementbetween the friction elements and the friction blocks l0 and this movement, which may be in increments, is transmitted through the arms '66 to the sleeves 56 ,resulting in moving the sleeves inwardly of thecylinder on the pistons 36 and 38 against the resistance of the friction elements 58 proportionately to the differential of wearof the linings 26 and the friction blocks 18, and this establishes an adjusted relationship between the stop ring 50 1andsthe .stops 60 onthe sleeves 56. y f

sults in, moving the friction elements or shoesto their retracted positions in proper spaced relation to the drum.

While this invention has been described -in connectionsewith certain specific; embodiments,

the' principle involved is susceptible of numerous other` applications', 'that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

AHaving thus' described the various features of l clamped to the pistons for cooperationwith4 the. o)

manually. adjustablestops, and means yieldably and slidably engaging the drum foradjusting the stops on the pistons.

X2, A'brake comprisingl a rotatable drum, frictor including a cylinder and a piston movable therein for actuating the friction elements, manually adjustable stops on the cylinder, retractile springsrfor the pistons, friction elements in the cylinder between the stops and the pistons, sleeves frictionally'clamped to the pistons, stops on the sleeves for cooperation with the stops on the cylinder, and Wear resisting blocks connected to the sleeves and cooperating with the drum for determining the relationship of the stops.

4. A brake comprising a rotatable drum,y friction elementsgfor cooperation therewith, a motor including a cylinder and opposed pistons for actuating the frictionelements,manually adjustable stops on the cylinder, `means in the cylinder for retracting the friction elements, stops fric-I tionally clamped to thevpistons for cooperation with the manually adjustable stops, and means cooperating with the -drum for adjusting the stops on the pistons. i I Y 5. A brake comprising tion elements for cooperation therewith, a motor including a cylinder and opposed pistons reciprocable in the cylinder for actuation ofthe friction elements; manually adjustable stops on the cylinders, springs interposed between the pistons and the stops for retracting the pistons, stops frictionally engaging the pistons and cooperating with the manually adjustable stops and with. the drum for adjustment thereof on the pistons.

'v v HAROLD L. FRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: Y s

' YUNITED STATES PATENTS a `rotatable drum, fric- 

